From the ArcaMax Publishing, Politics Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/politics/s-371019-330724
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (UPI) -- An online community opened its e-doors Monday
with a report providing U.S. presidential candidates info on
Generation Y's political leanings.
MeriTalk.com, based in Alexandria, Va., said the information can help
presumptive candidates Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and John McCain,
R-Ariz., engage this demographic, the Web site's pollster said.
A survey of more than 2,200 Generation Y respondents in the top 10
U.S. cities indicates 73 percent of GenY-ers plan to vote in the
November election. Although 48 percent of respondents indicated a
Democratic affiliation, 71 percent said they believed a Democratic
administration would be best to lead the country.
However, three-fourths of respondents said they would cross party
lines to vote for a candidate -- indicating an opportunity for
candidates to engage Generation Y in the political process, the survey
said. Once engaged, 47 percent of GenY-ers said they would tell others
about the candidate they support.
"While Ys appear to be leaning heavily Democratic, their votes and
long-term loyalty are in play if the candidates can make them feel
part of government," said Alan Balutis, director of North American
Public Sector Consulting, Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group.
"The election isn't the finish line for Generation Y, it's the
starting block."